Self-parking windshield wiper



July-4,1939. E. c.' HQRTON 655,189

SELF-PARKING WINDSHIELD `HIPER Filed Aug. 3o, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 1 l Y Wl: 1% l.

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July'4, 1939, E. c. HoRToN I v SELF-PARKING WINDSHIELD WIPER Filed Aug.' 3o,v 1935 55 The windshield cleaner Patented July 4, V1939 UNITED .STATES l 2.165.180 SELF-ranmawmpsmnm wrrEa Erwin C. Horton, Hamburg, N. Y., asslgnor toA 'lrico4 Products Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y.

application 'August so, '1935, serial No. 38,6 10

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a means for cleaning the windows of motor vehicles andparticularly to that type wherein the wiper element is driven from the vehicle power plant.

The invention has primary reference to means for parking the'wiper element to one side of its normal path of movement, so as to maintain the driver's eld of vision clear from obstruction by the wiper when the latter is at rest. Means here-l tofore have been devised for bringing a mechanically driven windshield wiper to a position of rest at one side of the field of vision. Such means have usually comprised spring actuated shut-ofi devices set to be tripped at a particular point in the vcycle of wiper operation.

f The present inventionhas for its object t'o provide a self-parking mechanical cleaner in which the cleaner is brought to rest by and through the efforts of the transmission between the ywiper and its drive. The invention further has for its object to provide a self-parking windshield cleaner in which the parking is accomplished in a practical and efficient manner and by a simplified construction particularly adapted .for installation inf the present day motor vehicle.

In the drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the windshield cleaner head disposed in its wiper parking position;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the head illustrating the parts in the wiper operating position;

Fig. 3 is cleaner head, partly in top plan and partly in horizontal cross-section;

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view of the clutchenabling the wiper to be disconnected from its drive;

Figs. 5. 6 and 7 are vertical transverse sectional views about on lines 6 5, @-5 and i--ll, respectively, of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 8 is an exploded view, in perspective. of a portion of the parking construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the source of power for the windshield cleaner comprises the drive shaft I and may bedriven from the motor vehicle engine, notshown. This drive is provided with a driving clutchjllmrt 2 adapted to be coupled to the drivenclutch part 3 under the urge of a spring t, .and the driven clutch part in turn connected to the `flexible transmission shaft 5 by which power from the drive is transmitted to the wiper `actuating shaft 6.

head 11:24u which the a view illustrating me windshield.'

shaft t is carried, has a casing 8 pivotally mounted by a pin 9 to a bracket lll and provided with a journal bearing I I for the upper end of the transmission shaft 5. Within the casing 8 the shaft 5 carries a worm I2 which has meshing engage- 5 ment with the wormgear I3 on the wiper actuating shaft 6. This meshing relation is therefore maintained in whatever position the casing may assume about the pivotal axis S.

The wiper I5 may be carried directly by the l@ actuating shaft t, or, as illustrated herein, it may be connected thereto through linkage I6. The construction illustrated adapts the cleaner for-a plurality of wipers, lthe linkage IS extending in opposite directions from the crank arm li on w the actuating shaft. When the clutch partsare operativelyengaged the drive will rotate the worm I2 and, through the gear I3, impart rotary movement to the shaft 6 for operating the wiper means i over the window surface.

Forparking the Wiper, means are provided for unclutching the transmission from the drive during operation of the cleaner and byitspowertransmitting mechanism. To this end, there is xed on the actuating shaft 6 an arresting arm' I8 so as to rotate therewith. This arresting arm may form a part of the crank arm il as illustrated more clearly in Figs.v 1 and 2. Within the path of this arresting part is adapted to be positioned a stop member I9, and when so positioned and engaged by said arresting part, the wiper actuating shaft will be. arrested in its action. The worm l2, however, will continue to rotate and, because of the arrested arm. will ride` longitudinally on 4the worm gear to pull the transmission shaft 5 axially .and disengage the driven clutch part 3 from the driving part 2. .This action is timed automatically to' arrest .the windshield cleaner at one en d of the wiper stroke and therebyl avoid the `wiper from obstructing vision through the window.`

In order to dispose the parked wiper outside of its normal path the head 'i is rocked on its pivotal mounting 9 to shift the crank pin 2i of the crankl arm Il laterally from its normal path or from radius line 2 2A l(with respect to' the axis 9) to radius 23 in Fig. l. This movement being` multiplied by the wiper carrying arm 24 will dispose the wiper well out of the normal path of operation so that the driver will have the least possible obstruction therefrom. The head 1 therefore serves as an adjustable support for the shaft and is preferably rocked concurrently with the positioning movement of the stop member I9. According to the present disclosure, this yis` aclio gether with the stop member, being carried on a '-lever 21 which is pivoted on a-shaft28 and is 5' adapted to be oscillated thereon byan accessible control member 29.

l To restorethe windshield'cleaner to` operative relationship with its drive thelstop member I9 is withdrawn' from the arresting part Il, andthe .'cam

left as' viewed in Fig. 2, to bring the clutch part 3 under the urge of the spring 4. 'I'his axial\shift `ingmovement of the transmission may be yaccomplishedrconcurrently with the withdrawal o'f the stop member, as by having the lug engage a rocker arm` on the shaft 28, sumcient' play be- 'tween the two being provided by `the slot 3| to permita preliminary rocking of the head when the cleaner is next brought to rest..

in a bearing 33 formed in a shift member 34.

fsha'fti for axial movement therewith in the casing 8 but vmay be constrained against rotational,

movement therewith lby the guide ways I5 in which it' is slidably mounted. This shift member is .connected to a headed stud 36 onv the,worm

" I2 by the yoke arms 31 so as to permit the trans' mission shaft'to rotate .relative to the shift mem-v ber, a. thrust bearing in the form of a ball 38 being interposed between the head 36 and the member 34. for greater -emciency. A spring backed'eball 40 serves as a detent to :engage in a seat 4I in the shift member 34 and thereby yieldably hold .the .clutch parts together. This ball detentv is adapted to engage in a' second seat 42 transmissionin an inoperative position. The

' lseats 4I and 42 have sloping entrance ways down e Y. which the ball detent may be moved by its spring 144 to urge the transmission shaft axially in one direction or the other and thereby insure a great- 'er separation or more intimate engagement of the 1 clutch'parts.

lwith the parts. disposed as illustrated in'Figs. no

I gtulated to preset 'thestop -member I9 within the path of the arresting part I8 and so arrest the actuating shaft 6.- During the placement .of the stop member `I9 the cam lug -25 cooperates with the cam slot 28 to rock the windshield, cleaner head 'I aboutthe pivotal mounting 9 to shift the wiper'stroke from the normal. (The stop member I9ma`yv be given additional support by an 'gin to ride forwardly, and asv it does, press the detent 4l out of the seat 4I and lwithdraw the clutch part-3 from the clutch part 2, the clutch f disengagement occurring just as the detent enters the inclined approachto the seat 42 wherev 70 additional movement may be imparted bythe ac- -tion ofthe detent spring 44, if such is desired.

During thegshifting movement of the transmisis movedclockwise,

transmission meansby and during such riding f g movement, means movable to a position to arrest 75 l 'i f sion'shaft, the rocker arm 32 as isalso the rocker'arm 30.

alors-,iso

cleaner head is rocked back to the normal posi-J "tionshown in Fig. 2 by the lug 25 working in the 1 Y ot 26. During this movement of thev lug' theV transmission shaft 5 is shifted axially, to theV linto driving relationship with the clutch part 2' A second rocker army 32 on lthe shaft 2l engages" This member 3l S CIlneCted'tO the transmission for ease 0f understanding, the disclosure 1s mere..

ly illustrative of the inventive principles involved,

spirit of the invention claimed.` e

-means operatively connecting the drive -to the shaft and including a clutch for disconnecting of'the shift-,member for yieldably holding the.

transmission means operatively connecting the vabutment vonthe housing') 'Upon the arrest of the actuating shaft the worm I2 will then be- .-drive to the shaft and including a clutch for disconnecting the'drive from the shaft, said transcleaner the control member 29 is pulled to withdraw thestop membery I9 and rock the cleaner head counter-clockwisev about the axis 8. Con- Ncurrently with this operation the cam lug 2B further acts against the rocker arm I0 to oscillate e the rocker arm I2 counter-clockwise for imparting reverse shifting movementto the' shaft and bring'the clutch parts into operative engagement with one another, the'ball detent being again engaged in the seat 4I so as4 to maintain the clutched relationship' between the wiper andv its drive; fu

'I'he unclutching'of the wiper from its drive is accomplished by the transmission which connects the two elements, thus insuring a more pomtive parking action with the least number of parts. Furthermore, this power parking takes place 'be-k yond thernormal limits of wiper operation.- I 'I'he term "worm has been used herein in an inclusive sense, since a modified type of worm might be employed or a spiral or other type 0f gear whereby when the worm gear is arrested the driving gear will be free for limited riding movement thereon.

While a detailed description has been' given which may be applied to other physical embodiments without departing from the scope and I claim:

an adjustable support for the shaft, transmission the drive from the shaft, vthe transmission means having intermeshing power transmitting elements, means for arresting the driven one of said 1. Mechanism of the character described, com-v .prising, an actuating shaft, a drive for the shaft,

elements, means mounting the driving one of said 40 elements for bodily riding on the driven element y when so arrested, the driving element being operatively connected to the clutchfor rendering the clutch inoperativevto disconnect the drive from the. shaft, and manual meansfor presetting the ,second means .for operation' andconcurrently-shifting said support.

2. Mechanism of thejcharacter described, com-- prising, an actuating shaft, a drive for the shaft,

drive to the shaft and including a clutch for. disconnecting the drive from the shaft, said transmission means also including 'a driving worm and la worm gear meshing therewith, said worm being connected to the clutch and mounted for axial riding movement on the worm gear tangentially thereof to disengage the clutch when .l i

the worm gear is arrested; 'manually settable means for arresting the worm gear, and means operable by saidmanual.' means for laterallyI shifting the shaft,/"

3. Mechanism-of the character described, comprising, an actuatingshaft, a drive for the shaft, transmission means voperatively connecting. the

'restedand also being operatively' connected2 to the 'clutchgfor disengaging the driveffrom the "the gear so that continued movement of the worm for. movement thereby in a definite path,- a stop will unclutch the drive, and means' operable by and during movement of the arresting means to shift the shaft laterally.

4. Mechanism of the character described, comprising, an actuating shaft, a vdrive for the shaft, transmission means operatively connecting the drive to the shaft and including a clutch for disconnecting the drive from the shaft, a rockable head supporting the shaft, said transmission meansalso including a worm and a worm gear,

saidworm being mounted'for axialA movement on a the gear when the latter is arrested and operatively connected to the clutch for disconnecting the drive from the shaft by. such axial movement, and means for rocking the head to displace the shaft from its normal operating position and having a part-concurrently settable for arresting said Worm gear. g

5. Mechanism of the character described, comprising, an actuating shaft, a drive for the shaft, transmissionA means operatively connecting the drive to the shaft and including av clutch for disconnecting the -drive from the shaft, a movably mounted head 'supporting the shaft, said transmission means including a worm and a worm gear, said worm being mounted for axial movement in the head when the worm gear is arrested and operatively connected tothe clutch for disconnecting the drive from the shaft by such axial movement, means for arresting said wormvgear. and means for restoring the worm to its normal position when said arresting means is rendered inoperative. l 6. Mechanism of the character described, com` prising, an actuating shaft, a head supporting the shaft and mounted for shifting movement by which the shaft is shifted laterally from its normal operating position, means for manually shifting the head, a drive for the shaft, transmission means including a clutch for transmit# ting power from the drive to the shaft, and means pre-set by said shifting means and operable by said transmission `means for unclutching the drive from the shaft. r 4

7-. Mechanism of the character described, com

I' prising, an actuating shaft, a drive for the shaft,

transmission means operatively connecting the drive to the shaft and including a clutch fordisyconnecting the drive from the shaft, a support for the shaft mounted for movement to shift. the axis of the Ashaft laterally, said traon means being connected to said support, an arresting part operatively connected-to the shaft ving worm for initiating the operation of spring actuated means.

member mounted for movement intov thejpath of said arresting part to be engaged thereby for Aarresting the shaft, said transmission means including means for disengaging the clutch when saidl shaft is arrested, and means operable by and during such movement of `the stop member to effect movement ofthe shaft support.

-8. Mechanism of the character described, comprising, an actuating shaft, a drive for the shaft, transmission means operatively connecting the drive to the shaft and including a clutch for disconnecting the drive from the shaft, a support for the shaft mounted for movement to shift the axis of the shaft laterally, said transmission means also including' a gear rotating with the and means operable during the positioning of the pre-set means for moving the shaft support.

9. Mechanismof` the character described, comprising, an actuating-shafha drive for the shaft, transmission means connecting the drive to the shaft and embodying a` worm and an intermesh.- ing worm gear, said worm being mounted for ax-` ial movement on the gear when the latter is arrested, means for arresting the worm gear to effect such axial movement of the worm, and'means mounted for operation u pon such axial movement of the worm to secure the saine against retrograde axial movement independently of the worm gear. a

10. Mechanism of the character described, comprisingan actuating shaft, a ldrive for the shaft, transmission means connecting the drive to the shaft and embodying a worm and an intermeshing worm gear,said .worm being mounted for axial movement on the gear when the latter l clutching the drive when the worm so moves,

meansfor arresting the worm gear to effect such s axial movement of the worm, and springactuated means for holding the worm in its declutched position, said springv actuated means embodying a part positionable bythe axially moya ERWIN c. Hon'roN. 

